asked the Minister for Labour if it is proposed to introduce statutory minimum standards for hairdressing qualifications.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Hairdressing Qualifications.
80.
I am informed by AnCO that they have secured employer and union agreement on a six month course for unemployed and redundant hairdressing workers and that the course will start in the Dublin Training Centre in January, 1974.
Discussions will be held with employer and union interests to see what arrangements should be made in regard to the trade.
Are there still people operating in the hairdressing trade here who allegedly train young people in hairdressing but when the course is complete they have no qualifications because such houses are non-union?
All I can say is that AnCO do not intend to extend statutory control beyond the designated trades which include engineering, electrical, furniture and so forth.
What I am concerned about is that there are establishments which charge apprentices a fee to teach them hairdressing but these apprentices are not entitled to get employment in trade union shops because they are not recognised.
I have given the designated trades. There is nothing sacrosanct about the list. By agreement between employers and employees a trade may become designated.
There are people misleading children who want to learn to become hairdressers.
If the Deputy has information about employers misleading people in any occupation he should let me know.